ST. GEORGE — St. George had 28,500 residents in 1990, according to U.S. Census data. Four years prior, the city built Fire Station 1 — an 8,500-square-foot structure off 1000 East that, at the time, seemed massive compared to the original Main Street station.

In 1994, the department hired three full-time firefighters to join its full-time chief.

But the city has since exploded in growth, to an estimated 108,800 residents this year. The fire department now includes 80 full-time firefighters, in addition to volunteer and reserve crew members.

That means Station 1 — the department headquarters — needed an upgrade, said St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker. With just two offices in the building, the training room needed to be converted into offices, and department managers would hold meeting

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